$5 Meal Plan Recommended Products
This page lists some of the equipment that Erin and Jim use in their kitchen when preparing the meals on $5 Meal Plan.
On this page, we link to Amazon.com but these products are often available in most home good stores. If you have a Bed Bath & Beyond near you, check them out first because you can always find a 20% coupon lying around somewhere!
Erin’s Slow Cooker
The Slow Cooker that Erin uses is the Crock-Pot® 6.5-Quart Slow Cooker with eLume™ Touchscreen and is available for around $80.
It is programmable via an eLume™ Touchscreen. You can program it to cook up to 20 hours of slow cooking and automatically sets to warm for up to six hours after cooking. It measures 16.5″ L x 12.2″ W x 8.7″ H, carries a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty and is Model SCVT650-PS.
Great Deal Slow Cooker
The Crock-Pot SCCPVL600S Cook’ N Carry 6-Quart Oval Manual Portable Slow Cooker is the #1 Best Seller in Slow Cookers on on Amazon and is available for under $25. It measures approximately 15″ x 10″ x 15″, features a stainless steel design with high, low and warm settings with a secure fit lid that keeps your food sealed when you have to transport it.
It is NOT programmable and is Model SCCPVL600-S.
Small Kitchen Appliances
Black & Decker RC3303 3-Cup Rice Cooker
This Black & Decker 3-Cup Rice Cooker is less than $15, features one-touch operation with an automatic keep-warm mode, glass lid, and holds three cups of cooked rice and 1.5 cups of uncooked rice. Measures about 7.5″ x 7.5″ x 6.6″.
Hamilton Beach HomeBaker Breadmaker
The Hamilton Beach HomeBaker 29881 2 lb. Bread Machine has 12 cycles (basic, French, gluten-free, whole grain, quick bread, sweet, 1.5 lb. express, 2 lb. express, dough, jam, cake, and bake) and three crust settings (light, medium, dark). It comes with a whole-grain and gluten free recipes courtesy of Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods and has a delay timer that lets you add ingredients and begin the baking process later.
Oster CKSTGRFM-1018 10 by 18-1/2-Inch Griddle with Warming Tray
The Oster CKSTGRFM-1018 10 by 18-1/2-Inch Griddle with Warming Tray is a 10″ by 18.5″ nonstick cooking griddle with a warming tray that slides from underneath. It has a removable adjustable temperature control and cool touch edges.
Knives
We were very blessed with Henckels International Knives as wedding gifts. And I love them dearly. I’ve used a number of other brands over the years and they just don’t do the trick for me! I am a firm believer that a good set of knives are well worth the investment. And the good news…there are some fantastic deals on knife sets these days.
- Expensive – Henckels Forged 7 piece Stainless Steel set with knife block
- Not-So-Expensive – Henckels International Everedge 13-Piece Knife Set with Bonus Cheese Knife
- Henckels Sharpener Steel
Cookware
Skillets
- All-Clad Stainless 3-Quart Saute Pan with Lid
- Expensive – Swiss Diamond 6428 11-Inch Nonstick Cast-Aluminum Fry Pan
- Emerilware Cast Iron 12 Inch Skillet
Stockpots
Other Gear
- Oxo Good Grips Garlic Press – I use mine with just about every meal I cook. At least 80% of dinner meals anyways! And you should have one too. And give one to every chef in your life!
- Oxo Good Grips Can Opener – This thing has not failed me once in 8 years. Yep, I’ve had the same can opener for 8 years. It’s just that good!
- Oxo Good Grips 3 piece Angled Measuring Cups – These are e.s.s.e.n.t.i.a.l. for getting the best measure for liquids. Essential.
- Oxo Good Grips 5-piece Nylon Tool Set – I’ve been using these cooking tools for 8 years…just like the can opener. And they are still in great shape! Durable, long lasting (sounds like a battery commercial!)… they truly are! Whether you need an upgrade in cooking utensils, or a gift for a budding new chef in your life, this is money well spent!
- Progressive 19-piece Measuring Cup and Spoon Set
What Our Members Are Saying…
$5 Dinners has done a great job with the new $5 meal plan. The recipes are easy to read and follow. The grocery list is well organized and user friendly. Overall, it is a great meal planning service!
Stephanie
Nampa, ID
$5 Meal Plan is wonderful! The recipes are frugal yet everything I have ever tried has tasted great and, most importantly, my family likes them. $5 Dinners is great!
Michelle
Wilmington, DE
It's very user friendly and is simpler than anything else I've tried. I LOVE the icons that quickly describe the meals (as a mom of 2 young ones who contribute to my scatterbrain, that is so helpful!). I used to take hours planning meals and this is simple enough to cut down my planning time significantly!
Criston
Saskatchewan, CAN
$5 Meal Plan has helped me change from super frazzled to Super Mom in the kitchen! Erin's family friendly, frugal meals are full of healthy, wholesome ingredients and easy to follow directions. The detailed shopping list makes grocery shopping a breeze. I'm so happy to have an expert do the planning for me so I can enjoy cooking again.
